Changes

It is not clear whether the castle was built during the reign of [[Satto]], king of [[Chuzan|Chûzan]] (r. c. 1355-1395), but it was definitely built by the time of the reign of [[Sho Hashi|Shô Hashi]] (r. 1422-1439), first king of the united Kingdom of Ryûkyû.

It is not clear whether the castle was built during the reign of [[Satto]], king of [[Chuzan|Chûzan]] (r. c. 1355-1395), but it was definitely built by the time of the reign of [[Sho Hashi|Shô Hashi]] (r. 1422-1439), first king of the united Kingdom of Ryûkyû.

The reign of [[Sho Shin|Shô Shin]] (r. 1477-1526) saw considerable renovation and expansion of the castle, including the construction or expansion of the outer ring of stone walls.

The reigns of [[Sho Shin|Shô Shin]] (r. 1477-1526) and [[Sho Sei (1497-1555)|Shô Sei]] (r. 1527-1555) saw considerable renovation and expansion of the castle, including the construction or expansion of the outer ring of stone walls. The castle would remain through the centuries largely in the form it took at this time<ref name=chanpuru>Kadekawa, Manabu. ''Okinawa Chanpurû Jiten'' (沖縄チャンプルー事典, "Okinawa Champloo Encyclopedia"). Tokyo: Yamakei Publishing, 2001. p54.</ref>.

The castle was destroyed by fire at least four times in its history<ref name=shimpo>Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia.</ref>, most recently by Allied bombing in World War II; reconstruction began in 1992.

Shuri castle was destroyed by fire at least four times in its history<ref name=shimpo>Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia.</ref>, most recently by Allied bombing in World War II; reconstruction began in 1992.

Records from the time indicate that when the castle was rebuilt in [[1672]], following a [[1660]] fire, the roofs were tiled where they had been previously covered in wooden shingles, as a precautionary measure towards better fire-proofing. Archaeological excavations, however, have found both Korean and Japanese roof tiles dating to before this fire, indicating that at least some sections of the castle bore tiled roofs much earlier<ref name=shimpo/>.

Records from the time indicate that when the castle was rebuilt in [[1672]], following a [[1660]] fire, the roofs were tiled where they had been previously covered in wooden shingles, as a precautionary measure towards better fire-proofing. Archaeological excavations, however, have found both Korean and Japanese roof tiles dating to before this fire, indicating that at least some sections of the castle bore tiled roofs much earlier<ref name=shimpo/>.